Automated browsing system for publishers and users on networks serving internet and remote devices

• US 7,155,451 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robocast, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Damon C. Torres
• Inventors: Torres, Damon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wassum, Luke S.
• Application Number:
  US09/144,906
• Time in Patent Office: 3,038 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/103, 707/104, 707/501, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 345340-342, 345348-350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method of sequencing and scheduling web resources, via a software application that collects URLs and feeds them to a Web browser, so that the amount of clicks and decisions are reduced when browsing the Internet. The method begins after a computer user with Net-access encounters a URL that leads to a collection of other URLs that the software application has arranged to be presented in a continuous, show manner. This collection of resources then plays automatically, going from one resource to the next without the user being required to make a decision or click. The decision-making process is not inhibited, it is made optional. A method of inserting full-screen advertising, public service announcements, news, etc. has been developed. The server software application module described herein allows a publisher to stream URLs to a user who does not have the client-side software. The publishing module allows a user to format resources to a particularly desirable size and characteristic that promotes readability during a show viewing session. This same module can publish collections of nodes for others to view as a whole sequence, accessible via e-mail, screen saver or as a web resource.

Claims

1. A method for displaying on a user'"'"'s computer, content derived from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement comprising the steps of:

creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources;

without requiring user input, automatically accessing a plurality of said resources each of said resources identified by each of said nodes; and

displaying a content corresponding to each of said resources automatically in accordance with said show structure, wherein said step of creating further comprises the step of providing an interactively variable duration information, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to said resource is being displayed so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of creating further comprises the step of providing a duration information, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to said resource is being displayed.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said step of accessing further comprises the step of executing an application file residing in the user'"'"'s computer.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising the step of generating a data file resulting from said executing step.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of storing said data file for each resource accessed.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5, further comprises the step of retrieving each of said data files.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said step of displaying further comprises the step of reformatting said data files in accordance with a predetermined arrangement.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of displaying control buttons for controlling the display of said data files.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising the step of receiving control button commands for pausing said display of said data files, and for reversing the sequence of said display of said data files and for fast forwarding said display of said data files.

10. A method for displaying in a sequential arrangement on a user'"'"'s terminal display, content derived via a communications network from a plurality of resources the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one resource from a plurality of accessible resources via said communications network, wherein each of said resources is associated with a corresponding icon displayed on a first section of said user'"'"'s terminal;

creating a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a corresponding resource by recording a sequence of said resources by dragging and dropping said icons on a second section of said user'"'"'s terminal;

without requiring user input, automatically accessing each of said resources identified by each of said nodes in accordance with said show structure;

automatically retrieving a content corresponding to each of said accessed resources; and

displaying each of said retrieved contents automatically in accordance with said show structure.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein said step of creating further comprises the step of providing an interactively variable duration information, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to said resource is being displayed.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein said step of accessing further comprises the step of downloading a file from a server residing within said communications network.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising the step of receiving a dynamic content from a predetermined server.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising the step of displaying a persistent content window for receiving said dynamic content within said persistent content window.

15. The method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising the step of inserting resource identifiers interspersed within said show structure relating to said dynamic content.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said dynamic content is an advertising message.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the step of providing said dynamic content in accordance with said user'"'"'s profile.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising the step of storing said content for each resource accessed.

19. The method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said step of displaying further comprises the step of reformatting said content in accordance with a predetermined arrangement.

20. The method in accordance with claim 18 further comprising the step of displaying control buttons for controlling the display of said contents.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20 further comprising the step of receiving control button commands for pausing said display of said content, and for reversing the said display of said content and for fast forwarding said display of said content.

22. A method for transmitting in a sequential arrangement to a user'"'"'s computer, content derived via a communications network from a plurality of resources the method comprising the steps of:

performing an on-line search, in response to which a plurality of search results and their corresponding URL resources are received;

automatically creating and storing a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources via said communications network wherein said show structure is created in response to said search results received in response to said on-line search;

without requiring user input accessing each of said resources identified by each of said nodes;

retrieving a content corresponding to each of said accessed resources; and

automatically delivering said content to said user for display on said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure.

23. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said step of storing further comprises the step of providing a duration information, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to said resource is being displayed.

24. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said step of accessing further comprises the step of downloading a file from a server residing within said communications network.

25. The method in accordance with claim 24 further comprising the step of transmitting to said user a dynamic content.

26. The method in accordance with claim 25 further comprising the step of formatting said dynamic content for displaying within a persistent content window on said user'"'"'s terminal.

27. The method in accordance with claim 26 further comprising the step of inserting resource identifiers interspersed within said show structure relating to said dynamic content.

28. The method in accordance with claim 27 wherein said dynamic content is an advertising message.

29. The method in accordance with claim 28 further comprising the step of providing said dynamic content in accordance with said user'"'"'s profile.

30. The method in accordance with claim 29 further comprising the step of storing said content for each resource accessed.

31. The method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said step of delivering further comprises the step of reformatting said content in accordance with a predetermined arrangement.

32. The method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising the step of transmitting information to said user for displaying control buttons for controlling the display of said contents.

33. The method in accordance with claim 32 further comprising the step of receiving control button commands for pausing said display of said content, and for reversing the said display of said content and for fast forwarding said display of said content.

34. The method in accordance with claim 32 further comprising the step of monitoring said user'"'"'s instructions corresponding to interruption of said show structure within said duration.

35. The method in accordance with claim 32 further comprising the step of inserting advertisement displays between display of said contents corresponding to each of said nodes.

36. The method in accordance with claim 35 further comprising the step of selecting said advertisement displays based on said users'"'"' profiles.

37. A method for displaying on a user'"'"'s computer, content derived from a plurality of resources in an organized arrangement comprising the steps of:

creating a multidimensional show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources;

without requiring user input accessing each of said resources identified by each of said nodes wherein at least two of said nodes are spanned concurrently;

automatically displaying a content corresponding to each of said resources in accordance with said show structure, wherein contents of said at least two nodes are displayed during an overlapping time period.

38. The method in accordance with claim 37 further comprising the step of providing a duration information, representing the duration within which a corresponding content to each of said resources is being displayed.

39. A method for displaying in a sequential arrangement to a user'"'"'s computer, content derived via a communications network from a plurality of resources the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a category from a predefined list of categories;

performing an on-line search related to said selected category, in response to which a plurality of search results and their corresponding URL resources are received;

automatically creating and storing a show structure of nodes, each node identifying a resource from a plurality of accessible resources via said communications network wherein said show structure is created in response to said search results received in response to said on-line search;

without requiring user input retrieving each of said resources identified by each of said nodes; and

automatically delivering said content to said user for display on said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure.

40. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein prior to said step of automatically delivering the method further comprises the step of filtering the retrieved plurality of said resources to determine which of the retrieved resources are to be displayed.

41. The method in accordance with claim 39, further comprises the step of automatically replacing each of said displayed content to said user with a following retrieved resource, after a specified period of time.

42. The method in accordance with claim 39, further comprising the step of allowing an option to bookmark each of the resources being displayed for later viewing.

43. The method in accordance with claim 39, further comprising the step of allowing an option to bookmark each of the resources being displayed for printing a selected subset of said retrieved resources.

44. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein each of said retrieved resources is a World Wide Web page.

45. The method in accordance with claim 44, further comprising the step of displaying a schedule window, for displaying a set of chosen line-up of show structures and time of their display, each corresponding to one of said categories.

46. A method for transmitting in a sequential arrangement to a user'"'"'s computer, content derived via a communications network from a plurality of resources the method comprising the steps of:

creating a user profile by specifying a plurality of user preferences;

conducting an online search to locate a plurality of of web pages and their associated URL addresses corresponding to said user profile;

without requiring user input retrieving each of said web pages located by said search; and

automatically delivering said content to said user for display on said user'"'"'s computer in accordance with said show structure.

47. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein prior to said step of automatically delivering said content the method further comprises the step of filtering the retrieved plurality of said resources to determine which of the retrieved resources are to be displayed.

48. The method in accordance with claim 46, further comprises the step of automatically replacing each of said displayed content to said user with a following retrieved resource, after a specified period of time, wherein said period of time is interactively variable by said user.

49. The method in accordance with claim 46, wherein said step of filtering further comprises the step of reviewing each of said web pages in accordance with a predefined rating system.

50. The method in accordance with claim 49, wherein said rating system is MPAA rating system.

51. The method in accordance with claim 46, further comprising the step of censoring each of said retrieved web pages in accordance to a specified censor level.

52. The method in accordance with claim 46, further comprising the step of allowing an option to bookmark each of the resources being displayed for later viewing.

53. The method in accordance with claim 46, further comprising the step of allowing an option to bookmark each of the resources being displayed for printing a selected subset of said retrieved resources.

54. The method in accordance with claim 46, further comprising the step of displaying a schedule window, for displaying a set of chosen line-up of show structures corresponding to one of said categories, and their corresponding display time.

55. An automated content displayer which is used to sequentially present, to a remote user, information content derived from selected websites, comprising:

means for storing at least one list of websites, each website of said at least one list having a corresponding address and an amount of time for which information content from said website is to be displayed to said remote user;

means for receiving from said remote user a selection of said list;

means, responsive to said selection of said list, for automatically retrieving information content from the websites in said list, without a user input;

means, for automatically providing the retrieved information content to said remote user;

means, for caching and queuing content from subsequent websites within said list, while a content corresponding to a current website is being displayed; and

a timer for controlling the duration that said information content is displayed to said user in accordance with the stored amount of time and for determining a time for retrieving information content corresponding to a next item in the list, wherein said duration that said information content is displayed is also interactively variable so as to enable a user to vary said duration.

56. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 55, further comprising means to determine whether one of said remote users requesting information is capable of receiving dynamic content.

57. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 56, further comprising means for determining a profile of said remote user, when said user is capable of receiving dynamic content.

58. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 57, further comprising means for transmitting the type of dynamic content sent to said remote user based on said profile of said user.

59. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 55, further comprising means to dynamically modify said stored addresses based on sites skipped by said user before expiration of said timer.

60. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 59, further comprising means for transmitting advertising content to each one of said users in response to said dynamic modification.

61. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 60, wherein said advertising content is based on preferences of each one of said users.

62. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 55, further comprising means to monitor whether one of said users has selected a new site before expiration of said timer.

63. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 62, further comprising means to determine whether said new site is within said stored list of selected sites.

64. An automated content displayer in accordance with claim 63, further comprising a database configured to store decisions made by said user while viewing contents of said sites corresponding to said stored list of selected sites.